Marcelo I. Guzman is an Associate Professor of Chemistry in the University of Kentucky, where he teaches analytical and environmental chemistry courses. In 2013, he received a NSF CAREER award. He earned his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech, 2007) working on ice chemistry with Michael R. Hoffmann. In 2002, he was an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) working on Paper and Photograph Conservation in the Sherman Fairchild Center. For his postdoctoral experience he joined the Origins of Life Initiative at Harvard University as an Origins Fellow working with Scot T. Martin.

Research

The Guzman laboratory studies the photochemistry of small organic compounds present in low water activity environments such as atmospheric aerosols, clouds and fogs. Mechanistic studies explore reactions of dissolved organic matter within aqueous aerosol mimics. The laboratory applies soft ionization methods coupled to mass spectrometry to explore the fast oxidation of halides and phenols at the air-water interface. Guzman's laboratory is also experienced in studying reactions in ice matrices. We are also interested on the potential use of photocatalysis for fuel production and to jumpstart a prebiotic chemical cycle related to the origin of life. Learn more about our work at the group website: http://www.guzmanlab.com/research

We are searching for inspired and self-motivated graduate students interested in joining the lab. Please forward an application letter, a list of three references and CV to Professor Marcelo I. Guzman (marcelo dot guzman at uky dot edu; Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0055). If you are currently a graduate student at UK or an undergraduate interested in registering for CHE 395, feel free to send me an email to schedule a meeting so we can talk about the exciting projects in the lab.